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Chris Bessette, along with his Elite Team teammate, Shaun Reed, has only been with HouseHunt for just under three months… and yet, they’re already acting like old pros! The CENTURY 21 Elite Properties duo have already learned the TIM system and are reporting the good news!
Becoming familiar with HouseHunt.com and the TIM system will no doubt be paying future dividends for them; perhaps sooner than later.
By now, the story seems all too familiar to us at HouseHunt: an agent finds a way to adapt to their current market and thanks to the system provided by HouseHunt, they’ve found a way to survive and prosper in a marketplace that has sent scores of lesser agent packing their bags over the past few months.
That said, just because it’s a story we hear all the time at HouseHunt, it doesn’t make it any less extraordinary! From coast-to-coast, our agents are reporting story after story of achieving success in their real estate market and some … well, some are even having their best year ever!
Surprising Sale in California
Keller Williams agent Melody Russell is no stranger to success and doing deals with HouseHunt. She has done very well working HouseHunt leads and this story is one more to her credit. Melody shared with HouseHunt that she received a buyer lead that listed $300K as their maximum price range, lower than average in the Santa Cruz County, CA area Melody works, but Melody works every lead the same and stuck with this person for nine months.
The end result was the purchase of a $1.25 million dollar house. He was a cash buyer! That means the transaction will close in 11 total days because no financing is needed. Furthermore, the buyer explained to Melody that after the deal closes, he wants to search for investment properties with her. This is all a great testament to the quality of HouseHunt’s leads, perseverance paying off, and never judging a book by its cover!
Doubled Sales from Last Year
Matt Marples of Marples & Associates recently told HouseHunt how fantastic business has been in the past year and a half: Twenty transactions in 2008 and a projected 40 closed transactions in 2009, all from HouseHunt.
Despite a brutal local market and falling home prices, Marples is proving that buyers are still out there and that HouseHunt has access to them. As a result, their company is growing and their income is continually growing. There’s nothing more exciting than doubling your gross production and thriving in business, while competitors and others in the industry are disappearing. HouseHunt is the core reason for their success and the future is exciting for this team.
Great First Year for a Keller Agent
Dan Lind in the Atlanta, GA area recently shared with HouseHunt that his time as a HouseHunt member has been exciting and profitable.
“I have been very busy thanks to HouseHunt,” Dan said.
Since starting with HouseHunt in March 2008, Dan has closed several transactions and the total selling prices accumulate to just over $3.3 million dollars. His take home portion is more than enough to keep Dan motivated and very happy.
Dan has even invested time in calculating his leads from HouseHunt. He concluded that out of approximately 20 leads, 2 will be ready to purchase in a month or so. A few others are typically looking to buy within the next year. That is future income and Dan keeps track of those individuals so as to reap the benefits down the line.
“I have also built up a good strong database of very good potential buyers, which I hope to convert to sales in the next couple of months or a year,” Dan explained.
“I thank you for living up to your end of the deal. As I get better at utilizing web leads, I hope my numbers will improve,” Dan added.
Just over a year and Dan’s real estate business has truly taken off. The future looks bright and he knows HouseHunt is the key to his current and coming success.
HouseHunt.com takes great pleasure in sharing the success of our agents who are thriving thanks, in part, to our unique System for Success with their exclusive territory.
A Great Start
Troy Jensen is a Keller Williams agent who became a member on February 27, 2009 by picking up Salmon Creek, WA and Ridgefield, Felida & La Center, WA.
Troy began getting leads as usual while his websites went through production. The great news is that one of those leads was a buyer ready to move forward immediately.
Troy put that buyer in escrow exactly one month after signing up with our service.
Still in the beginning stages, Troy already has one deal under his belt and is more motivated than ever to succeed.
Surprising Sale in California
Keller Williams agent Melody Russell is no stranger to success and doing deals with HouseHunt. She has done very well working HouseHunt leads and this story is one more to her credit.
Melody shared with us that she received a buyer lead that listed $300K as their maximum price range. That’s lower than average in the Santa Cruz County, CA area Melody works, but Melody works every lead the same and stuck with this person for nine months.
The end result was the purchase of a $1.25 million dollar house. He was a cash buyer! That means the transaction will close in 11 total days because no financing is needed.
Furthermore, the buyer explained to Melody that after the deal closes, he wants to search for investment properties with her. This is all a great testament to the quality of HouseHunt’s leads, perseverance paying off, and never judging a book by its cover!
Trying to imagine what the market will look like when it turns around? Keep your eye on the first time home buying activity, not just in the U.S., but also worldwide.
According to the president and CEO of Royal LePage Real Estate Services in Canada, “…first-time buyers will be the engine that drives Canada’s housing market in the months to come.”
Currently, first-time buyers represent 40% of all real estate transaction in Canada, which is down from the 70% peak a few years ago. “When first-time buyers don’t buy, it’s really like sand in the gears of the real-estate market,” he said.
In the U.S., real estate agents nationwide are currently updating their market conditions reports to reflect the new Spring Market in their local areas. Many of these agents are reporting to HouseHunt.com that “first-time home buyers are the greatest activity in their markets.” Nearly six months ago, the first-time home buyers were even with the repeat buyers in many cities in the U.S. according to HouseHunt.com’s 2008 3rd Quarter Survey (Q3 2008).
Fast forward to the 4th Quarter in 2008, HouseHunt.com CEO Michael Bearden says, “Our fourth quarter random survey of HouseHunt member-agents showed that first-time buyers accounted for 65% of existing home sales – up from 46% in the first quarter of 2008 – and nearly double the normal ratio between repeat and move-up buyers.”
With preliminary results for the 1st Quarter of 2009 showing an abundance of first-time home buyer activity, could the U.S. be at a “half-way point,” like its northern neighbor? It wouldn’t be surprising since there are many new programs in place to motivate the qualified first-time home buyer to make a purchase. The new FHA loan limits that were signed into law last month create an opportunity for any qualified buyer to purchase a home today at an incredibly low interest rate.
Combined with the first-time home buyer credit, today’s real estate market has what’s necessary to turn around.
“Sitting back while our local consumers are pounded with national information - which may not present a true picture of our area - is not an option,” says the Metropolitan Consolidated Association of Realtors.
Realtors nationwide are struggling to convince buyers that now is the right time to purchase a home. But with the media blitz of “doom and despair,” how can a real estate agent compete? In addition to pounding the pavement and building a database of buyers and potential sellers, Realtors should take a more aggressive approach in letting people know about their local market. Member agents of HouseHunt.com are quickly updating their Market Conditions Reports, in anticipation of the spring market (which begings on 3/20/09). With many Realtors reporting positives in their market such as More Buyers than Sellers and Sellers getting 95-100% of their asking price, buyers can make an educated decision on purchasing a home, even in today’s market. Local Market Condition Reports from Realtors nationwide can be found HERE.
In addition to marketing current local trends, Realtors can use a “Cost of Waiting Analysis” method to help a buyer “on the fence.” John Davis of Silverstar Finance, recently did a CWA for the Huntington Beach area. “I did a little research on the overall affordability of a home in Huntington Beach based on median price and average interest rate for a well qualified buyer. I based it on just two years ago, from Q1 2007 to Q1 2009. Here’s what I found:
2007 - $768,000, 6.25% rate, 20% down payment (74 DOM) generated a $3,783 principal and interest payment.
2009 - $595,000, 5.25% rate, 20% down payment (84 DOM) generated a $2,628 principal and interest payment.
That’s a 30% drop in payment!
I’ve shared with you in the past that every time I’ve run a ‘Cost of Waiting Analysis’ that assumes a 10% value drop and a corresponding 1% increase in interest rate, your buyer is better off to buy now, even given the future value drop.”
Consumers should view their local real estate agent as the greatest source of information regarding the real estate market, and not base their buying and selling decisions on what the national media is reporting. It’s up to the 1.5 million Realtors nationwide to take back the minds of the consumers.
People really listen when a friend or coworker brags able using a service that makes them money and helps them accomplish their goals. Referral business is always an ideal way to grow a company and acquire new members.
Kim Thomson, a HouseHunt agent who represents Santa Clarita, CA, has been publicly boasting about her successful investment with HouseHunt.
“Your system is a ‘Secret Weapon,’” Kim exclaimed. “I’d love to keep it a secret, but that’s not the way I work. There are more than enough leads out there for everyone. Why be greedy?”
Thomson explained that she is continually impressed and overwhelmed with the number of leads she receives on a weekly basis. That is all the more reason for her to feel comfortable telling fellow agents about her secret weapon, HouseHunt.
Kim also wants to acquire new tools to help her manage all of the buyer leads. She understands that doing an even better job in this area will certainly increase her income.
On Friday, March 6 at 11:00am PST, HouseHunt.com is proud to offer our latest Webinar, hosted by Jim Droz, entitled, “Working the FSBO.”
Nothing is more critical to an agent’s success, regardless of the market environment, than having a strong inventory of saleable listings. One of the most efficient ways to quickly build your listing inventory is to work For Sale by Owners. In this coaching session we focus on an extremely effective system to convert For Sale by Owners into active listings. Attend this presentation, build your listing portfolio and earn more commission dollars! Don’t miss this opportunity!
Click HERE to register for free!
Eric Pipkorn, HouseHunt veteran in East Cobb, GA, recently made an incredible projection for his business in 2009.
“I had several closings in ’08 and I look to close one a month in ’09,” Eric said.
That’s one closing a month strictly based on predictable income and does not include any additional business not yet in his pipeline that will arise.
Now, agents in the East Cobb area have faced their share of difficulties with fearful buyers, Eric included. Agents have struggled to steer buyers away from negative media and ensure them that now is the best time to buy a home.
Fortunately, Eric has HouseHunt, which has provided him with a flow of buyer leads that consistently builds his pipeline and increases his odds of finding confident buyers ready to move forward now.
The real estate business is a numbers game and HouseHunt gives Eric the advantage he needs to predictably grow his business year after year.
Maureen D’aiutolo signed up with HouseHunt in December 2008, purchased the North Bethesda, MD exclusive territory and got to work.
